Tremains put name to Art Deco event

Tremain Real Estate has been announced as the new sponsor of Art Deco Weekend in a deal spanning at least the next four years.

The loss of former sponsor GEON occured when the transtasman print company's liquidation was revealed just days after the 25th annual weekend commemoration of Napier's post-earthquake architectural heritage in February.

Managing director Simon Tremain was on the phone almost immediately, with an offer that led to yesterday's announcement that Tremain Real Estate will sponsor the event.

A quarter-of-a-century earlier he had been almost as quick on the uptake, getting caught up in the euphoria of the weekend, although just 19 at the time, being at university and not living in Hawke's Bay, where the company was established by his father and former All Black rugby hero Kel Tremain.

Mr Tremain said yesterday as staff and Art Deco Trust representatives toasted the union at a Louis Hay-designed Art Deco era home in Sealy Rd, on the Napier hills.

"I remember going to the Gadsby picnics, that sort of thing," he said.

Now he's taking the next step in showing it off, and he said: "We are 100 per cent locally owned and operated and proud of our Hawke's Bay heritage, so supporting the iconic event was very important to us."

"We want to make Hawke's Bay a great place to live and visit.

"The Tremains Art Deco Weekend does just that. It brings people into our fine province, showcases some great properties of that era, and allows them the opportunity to see us at our best."

The GEON sponsorship was also founded in a locally-owned enterprise, Brebner Print, and Mrs Jackson said the loss of the sponsorship in the conglomerate's "unfortunate demise" left the Trust with a daunting task which caused a few sleepless nights.

But two companies quickly made contact expressing serious interest.

"That first phone call from Simon Tremain was incredible and the excitement has grown ten-fold since the contract was signed," she said.

"The synergies between Tremains, the Art Deco Weekend and the Trust will be outstanding."

Tremain Commercial managing director Cam Ward highlighted the restoration and protection of buildings for commercial use in Napier's CBD, and said it's a real point of difference in attracting business to the region.

"We have many commercial customers drawn to our region for its lifestyle and iconic heritage," he said.

The dollar-value of the sponsorship is confidential, but Mrs Jackson said it would be among the highest for events in Hawke's Bay.

"In this economic environment, to have Tremains on board for an initial four-year-term at this level is a testament to the success of the event."